Jeremy Abbott completes the men's short program at the 2014 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Boston. / Winslow Townson, USA TODAY Sports

by Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY Sports

by Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY Sports

BOSTON - Jeremy Abbott, an "old" figure skater by his own appraisal at age 28, beat the younger guys - and the starting clock - Sunday to win his fourth men's title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and clinch his second trip to the Olympics.

About two hours after Abbott's victory, U.S. Figure Skating officially nominated him and runner-up Jason Brown to the U.S. Olympic team. The selection committee wasn't bound by the finishes at nationals, but the Olympic spots went that way for the men.

Abbott was nearly late to center ice for the start of his free skate. The scoreboard clock that ticked down precisely when he was required to begin was at 0:00 just as he got set. Fans at TD Garden assisted him with a vocal countdown as the clock ticked.

"I have to thank the audience because without them I would have been disqualified. That was really cutting it close," said Abbott. "When I heard the music, I was like, `Thank God, I'm not disqualified. It's now or never.' "

A U.S. Figure Skating official confirmed he could have been disqualified. Abbott said he had no idea he was so close. He got on the ice and had some concerns about how he was feeling the edges of his blades. He said he started to get a little nervous, so he went over to his coach.

"And then next thing I know the audience was counting down and I'm sprinting to me starting spot," he said.

When he started to skate to the Exogenesis Symphony Part III (Redemption) by Muse, Abbott's timing was just right.

After setting a U.S. record for points in the short program Friday night, Abbott opened his free skate by landing a quadruple toe loop. His performance the rest of the way (calamity free) gave him 174.41 points in the free skate and a winning 274.27 overall.

"I knew I was going to cry today, good or bad," said Abbott, who is from Aspen, Colo.

"The team hasn't been named yet, but I'm proud to represent the U.S.

"Four-time national champion is just crazy. I'm just a small-town boy. I never thought I'd be here."

Second overall was Brown, 19, of Highland Park, Ill. He didn't try a quad in his short or long program, but he scored 182.61 points Sunday to win the free skate and totaled 270.08 points overall for the silver medal. The crowd clapped in rhythm to his music as he skated and roared at each jump he landed.

"I couldn't have asked for anything more," said Brown. "I went out there. I was so trained, and I was ready to fight for whatever I could. That's what I did. I enjoyed every moment. I enjoyed the crowd. â?¦ I can't thank them enough."

Defending champion Max Aaron, 21, of Scottsdale, Ariz., was third with 260.44 points (173.49 in the free). "I feel satisfied," he said. "Two flaws in the program (including a touched hand on one of his two opening quads), but I gave it a good attack."

Abbott finished ninth at the 2010 Olympics as the reigning U.S. champion that year.

"I'm ready to go back home and keep plugging away at our plan because that's what's been working for me," said Abbott, who had struggled since winning his last U.S. title in 2012.

Abbott set a U.S. record in the short program Friday night with a score of 99.86.

"Because the short program was so magical there's always that coming back down," said Yuka Sato, Abbott's coach.

"I knew he was going to have a struggle coming back into the long program and I think he managed it so well."

Before Abbott claimed the scoring record Friday, Richard Dornbush, 22, of Corona, Calif., earlier had a U.S. record score of 92.04. Dornbush botched his quad attempt Sunday at the start of his skate. He scored 144.34 points in the free and finished fifth overall with 236.38 points.

"Not my best, that's for sure. I came in here with such a strong position and really dropped the ball today," Dornbush said.

"I'm not sure exactly what happened. I had a tough season with the quad and was able to get past that in the short program, but I reverted a bit today and it was a domino effect from there."

In 2012, Evan Lysacek became the USA's first men's gold medalist in Olympic figure skating since Brian Boitano in 1988. Lysacek, 28, hoped to return to the Olympics this year, but his bid was halted by a torn labrum in his left hip.

The USA has two men's spots in this Olympics instead of the maximum three as a result of its finishes in last year's world championships. Aaron was seventh and Ross Miner was 14th at last year's worlds.

Miner, who is from Boston, did his free skate Sunday to the theme of "Boston Strong," a tribute to the spirit of this city after the Boston Marathon bombings. Fans at TD Garden gave a standing ovation to Miner, who placed seventh overall.

"I've got to say that's going to be one of the most meaningful programs when I look back, when I get a little older," said Miner, 22.